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Friday, April 20, 4-7 p.m. Start at the Rifle Public Library's second floor to pick up the tour list and a free pedometer, then visit the following locations on a "Poker Walk." Bring your best hand back to the library by 7 p.m. to be entered in a drawing, view the final designs from the Downtown Charrette and have refreshments.Country Attic: 10 percent off all items; Creekbend Bistro: live music and open for dinner; 4th Street Cleaners: coupons for 2 for 1 laundered shirts; Lady Bug Express: 10 percent off and free balloons; Lucky Dog: outside the Ute Event Center with food specials; Midland Arts: Face painting by Anne Hunter and enter a drawing for a free piece of art; Miller's Dry Goods: preschool age coloring contest, judged by Skye Fielder. Prize is a faux bear rug; Quick Mediation Services: creating harmony all Friday evening and every day; Paisley's Dud's (new kids clothes): 10 percent off all clothing and free treats of "cake pops" and balloons; Rifle Lock and Safe: open Friday evening; Sports Corner: Happy Hour from 4-7 p.m., $1 off purchase for the Poker Walk and local artisan mug drawing; Tradesman: open Friday evening; Ute Events Center: come by for free popcorn and classic movie music; X Point Bar: 2 for 1 drinks special on all mixed drinks.More info: Nathan Lindquist, nlindquist@rifleco.org or 665-6497

Expect traffic slowdowns and possible delays in both east and westbound lanes of I-70 west of Parachute (milemarker 72) through October from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. No lane closures are scheduled. Work is under way on shoulders for deer fence installation, clearing and grubbing. Project hotline is (970) 414-0611. Email can be sent to i70.parachute.project@gmail.com.

Road work is under way on Colorado Highway 13 north of Rifle in Rio Blanco County, near Meeker. A full depth reconstruction project will include 1.95 miles of the highway, from mile markers 25 to 27. The project will increase visibility, widen shoulders, add guardrails and new drainage pipes to this section of the highway.Motorists will experience reduced speed limits from 65 mph to 35 mph and single lane closures through the work zone. Normal working hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The $4.9 million project is contracted through Old Castle United Cos. and is scheduled for completion by November.

One Book 4 Colorado is a statewide campaign to promote early literacy by providing free new books to every 4-year-old in the state. Putting a book in the hand of a young child can inspire a love of reading and help that child develop into a life-long learner.Colorado Reads: The Early Literacy Initiative is an effort to help ensure all Colorado children are reading at grade level by the third grade. This year's book, in English and Spanish, will be distributed to 4-year-olds at all Garfield County public libraries and doctors' offices from now through April 29. All families with 4-year-olds are eligible to receive a free book. Info: 625-4270 or www.gcpld.org.

For the 15th straight year, the Feinstein Foundation is conducting its annual campaign to fight hunger in America. Allen Shawn Feinstein of Rhode Island is offering $1 million to hunger fighting organizations such as LIFT-UP, based upon the amount of money and food they raise in March and April.Every dollar or food item donated to LIFT-UP by April 30 will be eligible for additional funding from the Feinstein Foundation, up to a maximum award of $35,000. "The needs are just as pressing at this time of year," said Mike Powell, executive director of LIFT-UP. About 2,500 people per month are receiving assistance from LIFT-UP's seven area food pantries, and The Extended Table Soup Kitchen is serving more than 1,100 meals each month, he said.The Feinstein Challenge encourages support for local organizations that are tackling hunger. Last year the Feinstein Challenge prompted close to $250 million in giving to more than 2,000 hunger-fighting agencies nationwide.Monetary donations may be made online at www.liftup.org or sent to P.O. Box 1928, Rifle, CO. 81650. Nonperishable food items may be dropped off at any LIFT-UP food pantry from Parachute to Carbondale.

Next year's high school freshmen and sophomores are invited to apply for the free First Ascent Youth Leadership program set for June 24-29 at Colorado Mountain College's campus in Leadville.Now in its 18th year, this program teaches leadership skills in an outdoor college setting, with activities such as rock climbing, mountain climbing and river rafting. Students often return as counselors in future years. The program accepts 40 students.Applications are due May 1, and are available through high school counselors or online at coloradomtn.edu/firstascent.For information, contact program coordinator Paul Edwards at 947-8329 or pedwards@coloradomtn.edu.

Registration is now open for the 2012 Club 20 Leadership Conference on May 3-4 at the Grand Junction Courtyard by Marriott. This event offers the young professional to the seasoned corporate executive the opportunity to explore what it means to be a leader.The conference is open to the public. Cost is $135 for CLUB 20 members and $150 for nonmembers. Group discounts are available. Register online or download a membership form at www.club20.org or call (970) 242-3264 for more information. Out of town guests can find reduced room rates at the Courtyard by Marriott. Call (970) 263-4414 for reservations.

Encana's Energy Expo is celebrating 10 years of educating western Colorado residents about natural gas development in the Piceance Basin. During the free public event, attendees will be able to visit with industry experts and see first hand the technological advancements the energy industry has made in developing Colorado's natural resources. With more than 90 companies and organizations at the event, the Energy Expo offers attendees a unique opportunity to talk one-on-one with natural gas operators and service companies; local, state and federal governmental agencies; and community and state university representatives. The expo will also showcase local alternative energy companies and natural gas powered vehicles. The expo is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, at the Garfield County Fairgrounds, 1001 Railroad Ave.

The Bookcliff, Mount Sopris & South Side Conservation Districts will host a landowner appreciation picnic at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24, at the Silt Park to celebrate conservation successesPlease RSVP to 945-5494, ext. 105.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking public input on the development of bear management plans for hunting units on the Grand Mesa. During May, wildlife managers will host public meetings in Grand Junction, Hotchkiss, Rifle and Collbran to provide information on bear management and seek public comment on how to maintain a healthy bear population while reducing bear conflicts. The areas up for discussion include Game Management Units, 41, 42, 421, 411, 52, 53, 63 and 521.Bear management plans will also consider input from various land management agencies.At the meetings, citizens can learn about the current and historic status of black bears on the Grand Mesa. Wildlife managers will ask for input about future objectives and management strategies, including trends in population size. Meeting population objectives is typically accomplished through hunting, a proven and effective management tool.Four public presentations are scheduled, all between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.• May 7 - Northwest Region Service Center, 711 Independent Ave., Grand Junction, main conference room• May 14 - Memorial Hall - 149 E. Main St., Hotchkiss, entrance on 1st Street• May 15 - Rifle Fire Department - 1850 Railroad Ave., Rifle• May 16 - Plateau Valley School Auditorium, 56600 Highway 330, CollbranA survey will be available at each meeting and an online survey is to be available on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website beginning April 27. To find the online survey, go to www.wildlife.state.co.us click on the "Hunting" tab, then click on "Big Game" on the left-hand menu, then scroll down and select "Herd Management Plans"

The Bookcliff, Mount Sopris & South Side Conservation Districts and Garfield County Vegetative Management will provide cost sharing to landowners for controlling noxious weeds. An on-site visit is required to identify weeds, address resource issues and develop a weed management plan. The deadline for spring application is July 15. Applications for the program are available at the conservation district office by calling 945-5494, ext. 105, or visit www.bookcliffcd.org to download an application. To arrange an on-site visit, call the conservation district at 945-5494, ext. 105, or Steve Anthony at 625-8601.

With warmer days here, Xcel Energy reminds customers to call 8-1-1 before digging for landscaping projects around the house or on their property to have underground utility lines located.The service is free, and calling 811 is required by law.The exclusive three-digit number, which works across the country, will connect immediately to the Utility Notification Center of Colorado, also known as Colorado 811.Xcel Energy will send a utility locator to locate and mark company-owned utilities with colored flags, paint or stakes. Red indicates electric power lines and yellow indicates natural gas lines.Call at least three business days before digging to allow all utilities time to locate their lines. Once digging begins, respect the marks and dig with extreme care. Customers must arrange with a private locate company to mark lines not owned by a utility, such as a line to heat a pool or light a garage. Digging without locates can cause costly property damage, interrupt services, cause injury and even death from striking underground utility lines.